Clinico-demographic factors associated with diarrhoeal disease outcome in under-five children: A Nigerian tertiary hospital experience

Type Journal Article - Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics
Title Clinico-demographic factors associated with diarrhoeal disease outcome in under-five children: A Nigerian tertiary hospital experience
Author(s)
Volume 43
Issue 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2016
Page numbers 246-251
URL https://www.ajol.info/index.php/njp/article/viewFile/146431/135954
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the proportion of under-5 children presenting with diarrhoeal disease, and the clinico- demographic variables associated with the outcome at the emergency paediatric ward (CHER) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, South- East Nigeria. Methods: Clinical and demographic details of patients with diarrhoeal disease as obtained from the Paediatrics emergency ward log book over an 18month period were analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft excel software packages. The clinical variables (non-parametric) were tested for degree of association with mortality using Spearman’s rank correlation. Chi square and Fischer exact test were used to determine presence of significant differences between certain variables. A p value < 0.05 in all these). Educational status of the mothers also significantly affected the outcome. (F=9.08, p=0.023) Conclusion: Intensified effort should be made to sensitize the public about dangers of inappropriate therapy and late hospital presentation of children with diarrhoeal disease. These will reduce mortality-heralding complications.

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